 
General information
- Geographic location: bounded by Lai Chau province to the North, by Son La province to the East and North-East, by China (Yunnan province) to the North – West, by Laos (Luong Pha Bang and Phong Xa Ly) to the South – West
- Area: 9, 562. 9 km2.
- Topographic features: Dien Bien has a very complex topography formed by high mountain chains, valleys, steep, narrow streams and rivers.
- Administrative units: include Dien Bien city, Muong Lay town and 6 districts: Tua Chua, Tuan Giao, Dien Bien Dong, Muong Nhe, Muong Cha, Dien Bien
- Population: more than 459,100 (statistics of Year 2006- Statistics General Office).
Resources
- Natural resources: Dien Bien has diverse and plentiful natural resources suitable for developing crops, farm produce, short-term industrial plants and afforestation. Dien Bien does not have many kinds of mineral but still have some major mineral mines of fat coal in Thanh An, Kaolin in Huoi Pha, mineral sand gold in Da river source, etc. Despite having smail deposits, these mines are quite important resources for developing industry and small scale industry in the province.
- Tourism resources: The province has great potentiality for developing tourism with Dien Bien Phu historical monument, Muong Phang campaign’s command post which are very valuable resources. Other places of interest are Pa Khoang lake, Hua Pe hot mineral stream, U Va lake, Muong Luan waterfall, Le Loi stele, etc.
- Human resources: People of working age account for 48.5% of the total population (214,110), in which trained ones account for 13%.
Infrastructure
- Transportation system: Unlike other mountainous provinces, Dien Bien has a diversified transportation network including roadway, airway, waterway. There are 3 national highways crossing the province: National highways No. 6A, No. 12 and No. 279. Besides, Dien Bien Phu Airport constructed during French domination is being upgraded to become an international airport with airlines to Southeast Asia countries. The province has a dense stream and river system but not favourable for developing waterway transportation because of its unconnected topography with many waterfalls and rapids which are only suitable for short distance transportation.
- Power supply system: Nam Muc hydroelectricity plant is the largest one of the province’s development plan with the capacity of 44 MW, production of 161 kWh per year.
- Industrial zones: Dien Bien now has two industrial zones. One situated in the South-East of Dien Bien Phu city with the area of 60 hectares specializes in construction materials, engineering repair, food and forest product processing. The other situated in the West of Dien Bien hollow specializes in processing sugar, coffee, fruits, pulp and rattan and bamboo handicrafts
Development Plan up to Year 2010
- GDP growth rate: GDP is planned to reach the rate of 9-1-% yearly; average GDP per head is planned to reach the rate of 500 USD yearly, in which agriculture – forestry’s production value increase by 5% yearly, industry – capital construction increase by 12% yearly, services increases 10% yearly.
- Sectors’ development plan:
+ Service: It is planned to develop markets, promote goods exchanges among areas in the province and with other provinces; strongly promote export to meet the demand of the industrialization and modernization cause; upgrade cultural and historical monuments and promote traditional festivals for tourism, etc.
+ Agriculture – Forestry - Fishery : It is planned to reach gross food product equivalent to 220,000 ton of paddy; average food per head reach 430 - 450 kg/year. 100 hectares of tea trees, 50 hectares of coffee trees, 80 hectares of fruit trees are newly grown each year, which raises the total growing area of tea trees to 1,000 hectares, of coffee trees to 700 hectares, of fruit trees to 1,000 hectares; soybean growing area is 10,200 hectares; the growth rate of cattle is 5 – 5.5% yearly.
+ Industry: A detailed plan has been made for using mineral resources in specific stages; expanding ore exploitation area to promote industrial production, etc. The province also make full use of Na Loi, Thac Trang hydroelectricity plants. It also creates favourable conditions for the construction of hydroelectricity plants such as Nam Muc, Pa Khoang. Besides, attentions are also paid to developing tea, coffee, maize, fruit juice processing.
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